Stamens 6; style 2-lobed; fr. a silicle or short silique; valves convex, 1-nerved or nerve obsolete. Seeds us. ∞, turgid, in 2 rows, sts irregularly so; cots accumbent. Aquatic to terrestrial annual to short-lived perennial herbs of c. 50 spp., mainly of temperate regions.

Annual, biennial or perennial rhizomatous trailing or taprooted herbs. Hairs simple, or 0. Stems prostrate to erect, leafy. Lvs simple to pinnate; margins of lobes entire or crenate or dentate. Racemes ebracteate. Sepals erecto-patent, saccate or not. Petals yellow or white. Stamens 6, without appendages. Nectaries 6, 4 lateral and 2 median, variable in form and degree of fusion. Style very short; stigma capitate or slightly 2-lobed. Fr. a globose to ovoid silicle or oblong to linear silique, often curved, dehiscent; valves veinless or 1-veined at least below; beak 0. Seeds oblong or ovoid, winged or not winged, in 1-2 rows per locule.